Pedal-operated musical instrument



E. W. SLINGSBY. PEDAL OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. l9 I917- Patented Mar. 14, 1922..

E. W. SLINGSBY.

PEDAL OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

I APPLICATION FILED NOV 19, I917.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

R. x z m v7 My B 7. 5 7 9 O 4 L E W SLINGSBY PEDAL OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, l9, l9]?- Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

sat VENT 013..

47 ORNE Y.

E. W. SLINGSBY. PEDAL OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT APPLICATION FILED NOV; 19, 1917.

1,409,475. Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHUT 4.

B) ATTORNEY. 7

E. W. SLINGSBY.

PEDAL OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED NOV 19, 19!].

1,409,475. Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

11v VENTOR.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST W. SLINGSBY, OF SAYBROOK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR- TO THE PRATT READ PLAYEB ACTION COMPANY, GE SAYBROOK, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CO1 NEGTIGUT.

Application filed November 19, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEsT V. SLINosBY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, resid .ing in Saybrook. county of Middlesex. and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pedal-Operated Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescrip tion.

This invention pertains to pedal mechanism for player pianos and the like where provision is made for concealing the pedals within the lower front portion of the case beneath the key board When not in use, although the pedals may be shifted outwardly into operative position on the floor when it is desired to play the instrument.

In devices of this character, it has been customary to provide means for causing the pedals to be swung out of the case into the operative position when the door for concealing the pedals is opened. Usually the door is provided with means for onga '4 the pedal mechanism as the door reaches the limit of its opening movement. in such a manner as to cause the pedals to drop out wardly on to the floor. such action being, therefore. of an automatic character. it has usually been necessary, however, to lift the pedals back into the case by means of the foot or otherwise. and toy close the door by manual manipulation of the i'neans provided for opening the door.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to simplify the operation of devices of this t-YPQ, and more particularly my object is to furnish means for closing the door auton'iatically when the pedals have been stored away.

Anothe object of my invention is to provide a player piano or the l' in which manual manipulation of the door is n t-rssar v' only for the opening thereof.

Another obj-e. Ft my invention is to pro ide improved means for controlling th door so thatit will close antonniti lv at about the time the pedals reach their roldcd away or stored position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide animproved form of connection between the pedals and door for causing the pedals to drop out of the case when the door is opened.

To these and other ends, the inventimi consists in the novel features and combinations Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14,, 19275.

Serial No. 202,775.

of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a partial. front elevation of an upright piano case equipped with my improvements, showing the door open but with tl e pedals not yet lowered, certain parts be ing broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of certain parts shown in Fig. 1;

F ig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the pedals lowered into the operative po- Figs. a, 5 and 6 are details of the detent mechanism for holding the door in the open position;

Fig. 7 is a partial front elevation of a modified form of the apparatus embodying a different means for operating the pedal mechanism from the door; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged details of certain parts shown in Fig. 7, Fi 8 being a sectional front elevation and Fig. 9 being a horizontal section.

It may be assumed. for purposes of description that the invention is applied to a piano player of the upright type having the usual. panel 10 at the lower front part thereof beneath the key bed, said panel being provided with an opening 11 for the in ward and outward movement of pedal mechanisin 12. The opening 11 is adapted to be closed by a door 1? which, in this instance,

of the laterally sliding type. In the particular embodiment shown, the door travels on a track l l supported on the inner face of panel 10 above the door opening, for which purpose said. door is equipped with the usual door hangers 15 in which track engaging rollers 16 areiournalled, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. ln the drawings. only one of the door hangers 15 is shown, as it is understood that the door may be mounted in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention. it will also be observed that I have only shown in the drawings one pedal 12 of the pedal mechanism 12, but it will be manifest that as the two pedals are alike, a description of one will sufiice. The pedal 12' is the right-hand pedal, the lefthand one being omitted. but I have shown the base or support .17 on which both pedals are pivoted at 18. and which rests on the floor in front of the toe rail 19 when the instrument is being played. The lower ends of the pedals are pivoted to base piece 17 for swinging movement in a vertical'plane, as customary, and the upper end of each pedal is connected in the customary way with the corresponding pump bellows by parts which I have not considered it necessary to illustrate as this is a feature common in the art. At each end of the pedal supporting piece 17, the same is rigidly connected with one end of a side arm 2 (of which only one is shown) that is journalled at its opposite end portion in the case to provide for the inward and outward swinging movement of the piece 17 and its connected pedals through the opening 11. Each side arm preferably has a bearing 21 in one of the side walls 22 of the pedal box, and the right-hand side arm shown in the drawings is continued through the side wall of the pedal box, as shown at 23, to cooperate with certain mechanism for controlling the pedals from the door, as hereinafter described. It will be understood, of course, that the pedal box includes the two side walls 22 and that pedal mechanism is interposed and supported between said walls. These walls extend transversely of the piano case in the lower portion thereof and rest at their lower ends on the bottom board 24 of the case, as shown at 25. The pedal supporting piece 17 is of slightly less length than the distance between the opposing faces of the walls 22, and the side arms are for the most part located within the pedal box, although a portion of the right-hand arm, which is bent to pass through a horizontal bearing 21 in the lower part of the corresponding wall 22, is located at the outside of the pedal box, as shown at 23. This cut wardly extending part of the arm has applied. thereto an arm 26 which fits over the same and which is made rigid with the end of the side arm by a set-screw 27. The arm 26 is mounted to swing in a plane pa"- allel with the side wall 22, i. e. transversely of the piano case, and it is adapted to cooperate with a swinging lifter arm 28 located at right angles thereto and having its extremity located beneath the arm 26 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1. The lifter arm 28 is, in this instance, formed integral with a swinging member 29 having a hub 30 swingin'gly supported on the lower end of a bracket 31 extending downwardly and laterally from the side wall of the pedal box. The member 29 carrying the lifter arm 28 swings about a pivot 32 whose axis is directed transversely of the piano, and the member 29 is actuated from the door 13 by means of an operating arm 33 which, in this instance, is secured in a groove onthe front face of member 29 by a screw 34, and which extends upwardly back of and generally parallel to the door 13. In the particular form shown, the operating arm 33, when in the position shown in Fig. 1, is located at the right-hand side of opening 11, which opening is of substantially the same length as the distance between the walls of the pedal box. The upper end of the operating arm 33 is adapted to be engaged by a stop piece or block 535 suitably applied to the rear face of the door 13 at a point adjacent the left-hand edge of the door. The arrangement is such that when the door 13 reaches approximately the limit of its opening movement, which uncovers the opening 11, the ido s]; will engage the upper end of operating arm 33 and thereby actuate the lifter 26 to lift arm 26. A slight lifting of this arin 26 will swing the side arm 20 and its associated pedal mechanism outward to a slight extent, which is nevertheless suflicient to enable the pedals thereafter to move down by gravity into the outer operative position, shown in Fig. 3. The shoulder 26 is so positioned upon the arm 26 that it moves the latch out of engagement with the lug 38 upon the door before the rocking arm 33 is swung suiiiciently by the lever 26 to cause it to engage the block 35. The door 13 is thus free to move towards its closed position before the pedal has fully reached its stored position within the case.

The mechanism for opening door 13 manually is not indicated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. but it will be understood that any well known type of mechanism may be provided for this purpose and, moreover, a device suitable tor carrying out this function will be described hereinafter in connection with the apparatus shown in Figs. 7to 9 inclusive.

Tu the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the door 13 is. in accordance with my invention, caused to close automatically when the pedals are stored away. For this purpose the door is acted on by a suitable spring which normally holds it in the closed position, in opposition to the means for opening it manually. A detent is also provided for engaging the door and holding it in the open position when it has been opened to the required extent, and this detent is adapted to be tripped by the pedal mechanism when the latter is stored away after playing, so that the door will then close automatically. In the particular form shown, the door is normally held in the closed position by a coil spring 36, which connects the door hanger 35 with a suitable fixed point on the piano case. lVhen the door is opened to the extent shown in Fig. 1, the spring 36 is considerably lengthened out and thereby subjected to considerable tension. As the door reaches the fully opened position, however, it is locked in that position by a springactuated detent device which, in this instance. comprises a pivoted latch 37 cooperating with a small stop piece 38 on the lower portion of the inner face of the door.

In the particular form shown, the latch 37 consists of a metal plate pivoted intermediate of its ends at 39 to a bracket 40, said plate being mounted to swing in a horizontal plane and having one end 37* adapted to engage the stop piece or lug 38 for the purpose 01 holding the door open. The end 37 of the latch is normally held in the path of the stop 38 by a spring a1 acting on the other end portion 37 of the pivoted latch. The latch is adapted to be engaged at the end 37" for the purpose of releasing the stop 38 by a tripping shoulder 26 on the arm 26. T he bracket 40 is preferably supported on the side of the pedal box beneath the axis of arm 26, and the shoulder 26 is adapted to engage the rear edge of the latch plate, as shown in Fig. 6.

lVhen the door has been opened by the customary operating mechanism which may be of the kind hereinafter described. the parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 1. The spring 36 is placed under tension. but the door is held in the open position by the detent or latch 3'7. which snaps into engagement with one edge of the stop piece 38 when the door has been opened to a predetermined extent. The arrangement is prel erably such. however, that before the door is locked in the'opeu position, the stop 35 on the door will have engaged the operating arm 33 and will have. therefore. caused the I pedals to be shifted to the outer'operative position. shown in Fig. or at any rate, the pedal mechanism will have started to move outward at the time the detent springs into engagement with the door for the purpose of locking it open. so that said detent may operate effectively under the influence of its sprin unaffected by the arm 26. When the player has finished playing. he moves the pedals upward into the ease in the usual manner. This causes the arm 26. fixed to the side arm 20, to turn in a clockwise direction with reference to Fig. 3 from the position shown in that figure to the position shown in Fig. 2. As the arm 26 reaches the position shown in Fig. 2. the shoulder 26 engages the rear-end portion 37" of the detent and. withdraws the POi'LlOH 37 from the stop 38, whereupon the door closes automatically under the influence of the spring 36.

It will. be understood, therefore, that by my improvements the manual manipulation of the door after the stowing away of the pedals is made unnecessary. A suitable bumper should. of course, be provided to lessen the shock of closing. By proper adjustment the door can be caused to close automatically without any perceptible noise or In Fig. 7, I have shown the customary manual operating means for the door, which consists of a horizontally yournalled rod 42 beneath the key board, having an operating crank arm 43 at its outer end and a crank arm 4-1: at its inner end, connected by a link with a lever 46 pivoted to the lower panel 10 oi? the piano at 47 above the door 13 and connected at its lower end with the door by a link l8 pivoted to lever -l6 at .49 and pivoted to the door at 50. In this case, there is a somewhat c'li'lterent connection between the side arm 20 and the operating arm The side arm is continued through the side wall ot the pedal box and is provided at the outer lace of said box with a bevel pinion 51. This pinion engages a bevel gear set; mentformed on a rocking member 53 mounteo to oscillate about a horizontal axis and. to which the lower end of the operating arm 33 is applied. Referring particularly to Figs. 8 and 9, the member 53 is mounted to turn about a pivot 54 carried by the lower end ot a bracket 55 similar to the bracket 31 neviously described. The operating arm 33 is positioned at its lower end between lugs 56 on the lower taco oi member 53. so that a single fastening screw 57 suliiccs to hold the operating arm detachably but rigidly on the gear segment member. The operation of this gear mechanism need not be described in detail as it will be obvious how the move ment of the operating arm produced by contact with the stop piece 35 on. the door causes the side arm 20 and the associated pedal mechanism to swing outwardly from the tolded position to the operative position shown in Fig. 7. Oi"? course, it will be understood that the abutment of the stop piece against the upper end of the operating arm is merely necessary to start the downward movement of the pedals, which is continued by gravity. In this operation, the upper end of the arm moves away from the stop 35, as shown in Fig. 7, so that thereafter when the pedals are stored away. the arm will not strike the step during the preliminary part of the movement.

In the embodiment of my invention illus trated in Figs. 7. 3 and '9, no means is disclosed for closing the door 13 automatically when the pedals have been stored away in the case, and therefore, no means is re quired to retain the sliding door 13 in its opened position. However, it desired, the door may be pi vided with a spring :lor automatically closing the same and detent means for retaining the same in the open position, similar to the mechanism disclosed for this purpose in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

Various changes may be made in the de tails of the construction without departure from the scope of my invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1.. In a self playing musical instrument. the combination ot a case having an opening, a door for closing said opening, a detent directly engaging a part of said door to hold the same in open position, a pedal movable through said opening, and pedal controlled means for releasing said detent and closing said door, said means being set into operation by movin said pedal to its -stored position within the case.

2. In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination of a case, a pedal movable into and out of the case, a sliding closure for concealing the pedal in the case, and automatically operating means disconnected from the pedal, but controlled by the move ment thereof for closing said closure.

3. In a self-playing musical instrun'ient, the combination of a case, a pedal movable into and out of the case, a closure for concealing the pedal in the case, a detent engaging said closure and automatically operating means for releasing said detent and closing said closure, set in operation by the movement of said pedal but normally free from connection with said pedal.

4. In a musical instrument, the combination of a case having an opening, a door for closing said opening, a pedal movable through said opening, a spring for closing said door, means engaging said door to retain the same in open position, and means operable by the movement of the pedal through said opening into the case to release said detent to permit the spring to close the door.

5, In a. musical instrument, the combination of a case having an opening, a door for closing said opening, a. pedal mo "able through said opening, self-acting means for closing the door, a detent engaging said door for preventing the operation of said closing means, and means for automatically releasing said detent by the movement of the pedal through said opening into the case.

6. In a musical instrument, the combination of a case, a pedal sliding into and out of the case, a movable door for concealing the pedal in the case, self-acting means for closing the door, and means for controlling the operation of said door closing means, said last means being operable by the pedal as the latter is stored away in the case.

7. In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination of a case having a pedal opening, a pedal movable through the open ing, a door for closing said opening, means normally holding the door in the closed position constructed to impart a closing movement to the same, and trip means enga ing said door for holding the door open ant releasable by the movement of the pedal.

8. In a self-playing musical instrument, a case having a pedal opening, a pedal movable through said opening, a sliding door for said opening, a spring normally tending to close the door, means to open the door in opposition to said sprin and a releasable detent for holding the door open, said detent being released by the movement of said pedal.

9. In a self-playing musical instrument, a case having a pedal opening, a sliding door for said opening, a spring normally holding said door in the closed position, releasable detent means for retaining the door in the open position in opposition to said spring, a pedal mounted to move through said opening, and means for controlling said detent from said pedal.

10. In a self-playing musical instrument, a case having a pedal opening, a, sliding door for said opening, a spring tending to hold the door closed, a detent :tor retaining the door in open position, a pedal mounted to move into the case through said opening, and means for releasing said detent :1L1t() matically by movement of said pedal to its stored position.

11. In a self-playing musical instrument, a case having a pedal opening, a sliding door for said opening, a spring tending to hold the door closed, a detent for retaining the door in open position, a pedal mounted to move into the case through said opening, and means for releasing said detent automatically, said last-named means including a side arm carrying the pedal and swingingly mounted in the case.

12. In a self-playing musical instrument, a case having an opening, a pedal box in said case, a pedal mounted in said box to move in and out through said opening, a door for said opening, means at one side of the pedal box engaging the door for bolding the same in the open position, means for releasing said holding means by the movement of said pedal, and means for closing the door automatically when said holding means is released. 7

In a. self-playing musical instrument, a case having a pedal opening, a pedal box in said case, a pedal mounted in said box by means of a side arm, a door for said opening, means for holding said door open,means operable by said side arm when the latter occupies a predetermined position for releasing said door holding means, and means for closing the door when said holding means is released.

14. In a seltplaying musical instrument, a case having an opening, pedal mechanism movable into and out of said opening-including a side arm swingingly mounted in the case, a door for said opening, means for exerting a closing force upon said door, and a detent for holding the door open against the action of said closing means, controlled by said side arm.

15. In a self-playing musical instrument.

a case having a pedal opening, a pedal inovable through said opening, a sliding door for closing said opening. manually ope ated means for opening the door, means upon said door to cause said pedal to drop out of the case when the door is opened, and means for closing thedoor automatically when the pedal is stored away again in the case.

16. In a seltplaying musical instrument, a case having a pedal opening, a sliding door for closing said opening, a pedal device movable through said opening and including a side arm swingingly mounted in the case, means for opening said door, means cooper ating with said side arm for shifting the pedal device outward relatively to the case when the door is opened, and means for closing the door automatically when the pedal device is stored away. I

17. In a self-playing musical instrument, a case having a pedal opening, a door for closing said opening, a pedal device movable through said opening and including a side arm swingingly mounted in the case, means for opening said door, means cooperating with said side arm for shifting the pedal device outward relatively to the case when the door is opened, and means for closing the door automatically when the pedal device is moved to its stored position within the instrument, said last-named means being controlled from said side arm.

18. In a self-playing musical instrument, a case, a pedal device having an arm mounted to swing relatively to the case, a door adapted to conceal said pedal when the latter is swung upward, means for opening the door manually, means normally tending to close the door, an actuator for said swinging arm operated by the door to shift the pedal outward when the door is opened, and a detent controlled from said swinging arm for holding the door in the open position until the pedal is stored away in the case.

19. In a self-playing musical instrument, a case having an opening, pedal having a side arm whereby it is mounted swing into and out of said opening, a door for closing said opening, an operating arm back of the door, a stop on the door to actuate said operating arm by the opening of the door, and means of connection between said operating arm and said side arm.

20. In a self-playing musical instrument, a case having an opening, a pedal having a side arm whereby it is mounted to swing into and out of said opening, a door for closing said opening, an operating arm back of the door, a stop on the door to actuate said arm by the opening of the door, and means of connection between said operating arm and said side arm, including interengaging members movable in planes at right angles to each other to cause the pedal to be moved outward when the door is opened.

21. in a self-playing musical instrument, a case having a pedal opening, a pedal box inside said case, a sliding door for closing said opening, a pedal structure including a side arm having a swinging bearing in the pedal box, a bevel pinion on said side arm, and a bevel gear segment engaging said pin ion and controlled from the door to lower the pedal structure when the door is opened.

22. in a self-playing musical instrument, a case having an opening, a pedal box back of said opening, a door for closing said opening, a pedal structure having a swinging supporting member extending through a bearing in the side wall of said pedal box, a bevel pinion on said member outside of the pedal box, and a bevel gear segment engaging said pinion and shit'table by the opening movement of the door to impart movement to said pedal.

23. In a pedal operated musical instrument, a case having an opening, a movable door for closing said opening, manually operable means whereby the door may be closed, a pedal, aswinging side arm mounting said pedal for movement into and out of the case through said opening, an operating arm back of the door, means of connection between said operating arm and said side arm, said operating arm being free from but engageable by the door on the opening movement of the door to swing the side arm and thereby move the pedal outwardly.

24. In a self playing musical instrument, the combination of a case having a pedal opening, pedal mechanism movable through said opening, a door to close said opening, and means, set into operation by the door in its movement to open position, for moving said pedals to playing position without the case.

25. In a self playing musical instrument, the combination of a case having a pedal opening, pedal. mechanism movable through said opening, a door to close said opening, and a lost motion connection between said door and pedal mechanism to move said pedal. mechanism to playing position when said door is opened.

26. In a self playing musical instrument, the combination of a case having a pedal opening, pedal mechanism movable through said opening, a door to close said opening, and a lost motion connection between said door and pedal mechanism to move said pedal mechanism to playing position when said door is opened, said means being set into operation during the latter part of the door opening movement.

27. In a self playing musical instrument, the combination of a case having a pedal opening, pedal mechanism movable through said opening, a door to close said opening and a lever engaging a part of said pedal mechanism, said lever being moved by said door to throw said pedals through said opening to operative position when the door is opened.

28. In a self playing musical instrument, the combination of a case having a pedal opening, pedal mechanism movable through said opening, a door to close said opening and means including a lever, disposed in the path of movement of said dOOr to open position, to move said pedals through said opening to playing position.

29. In an automatic musical instrument, a case having a pedal openin pedal mechanism movable through said openin a door to close said opening, said pedal mechanism being retained by gravity in stored position, and means controlled by the movement of said door to open position to overcome said retaining force and allow the pedals to move to playing position.

30. In an automatic musical instrument, a case having a pedal opening, pedal mechanism movable through said opening, a door to close said opening, and delayed acting means controlled by the opening of said door to move said pedals to playing position without the case.

31. In an automatic musical instrument, a RSO having a pedal opening, pedals movable. through said opening, a closure door, means to move the door to open position and connecting means, including said door, between said first named means and said pedals, to move the latter to playing position when the door is moved to open position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the th day of November, 1917.

ERNEST V. SLTNGSBY. 

